Who can tell me about Miami?
 

It looks like, after more than twenty-two years away from the Atlantic coast and over sixteen years outside of my state of birth, I'm going home. I have no clue what the Miami area is like these days and I don't have much time to check it out. Are there any decent areas left within 30-40 minutes of the city that won't break the bank? I can't afford to pay $3,500/month for a pimp condo but I don't want to get stabbed to death going for my mail if I can help it.

Are the crime and air quality problems in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami really as bad as my research says they are? I get the impression Miami is a real shithole, now. Do I want to live in Hialeah or Opa-Locka? What about Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, or Lauderhill?

The online apartment searches can only tell me so much and you can't really search for homes, so any advice is appreciated. If you know a real estate agent that has lists of rental property, let me know and I'll contact him or her.

Thanks,
SpaceAce

Hialeah and Opa Locka are shitholes. I used to live in Fort Lauderdale for a few years and I liked it. For the last four years I have lived in the Hollywood area. It's close to Miami, but not too close and has nice neighborgoods still. Pembroke and Lauderhill ane similar to Hollywood but a bit more west. Rent Free Realty (Hollywood and other offices) is one of the better apartment and house rental finders. Google them and they can help you out.

rent right now and dont buy the market is taking a shot - wait till jan

dont live in miami unless its south beach or aventura.

dont bother with Pembroke Pines - Lauderhill is shit and too far north of miami


like jim said Hialeah and Opa Locka are shitholes

hollywood is cool - east of I-95 to the beaches and a mile or so west is cool -

same goes for ft lauderdale, downtown area, las olas area - wilton manors is cool - east of I-95 to the beaches - but there are spots that are fucked up - just drive around the area or ask a realtor.

there are nice areas in west broward like davie, copper city, plantation and weston but its suburban and 30 to 45 min from south beach -

if your under 30 35 and single or have a wife/gf with no kids, stay east of I95

Everything I know about Miami I learned from Bad Boys 2!

What I learned at the most recent webmastershow in Miami:

1. Nobody in Miami was born in Miami.
2. Everybody there has pizza for breakfast
3. Beware of crocodiles.

When are you coming?

Assuming it goes through (it's not 100% settled, yet, but it's looking really likely), I would be there by October 1st, most likely.

Thanks for the replies, guys, especially the details. I appreciate the help. Keep posting if you've got something to add.

SpaceAce

you got it pretty much right on jonesy!


hahaha... that's right. we're all foreigners, pizza is for breakfast because we haven't gone to bed yet, and don't stop to pee on alligator ally! :thumbsup


make sure you cross opa locka and hialeah off of your list now!

if you need help finding an agent in the area, icq me or email me at [email protected] and i'll try to point you in the right direction. i know a few in miami and fort lauderdale.

cool tattoos. watch miami ink.

Yeah, it's like that here in Vegas, too.

Done, that seems to be a unanimous opinion.
Edit: What about North Miami Beach?

Thanks, I may do that. In the meantime, if anyone wants to drop a name or URL for agents in here, that's cool, too.

SpaceAce

Miami Lakes still has some nice areas, And Pembroke pines is nice. And with I75 right there you are in Miami in 10 min.

There you have it! I would just add, that if you can go even further north to Boca or Deerfield those are good as well... :pimp

That's nice, I'd like to keep the drive downtown to under thirty minutes if I can.

SpaceAce

Wow, really? One of my first thoughts was Deerfield Beach but I checked out the neighborhood profiles and the whole area seemed really undesirable. I'll look there again, though.

SpaceAce

I've only seen Miami in CSI and of course, the Vice.

I live in hollywood east of 95 2 miles from the beach

great area to live

Downtown Miami and South Beach both have some great places for rent in the $2,000 range. Miami is still decently priced compared to places like LA, NY, SF & Chicago.

Yeah, that sounds nice. The last place I lived before I left Florida was Port Charlotte and I was never farther from the beach than a quick walk or a two-minute car ride.

SpaceAce

I'm aiming for more lik4 $1,000 or not too much above that. I've gone back to school out of pocket and that's putting an extra burden on my finances.

SpaceAce

There are a lot of big bugs, humidity, and gays. Welcome to Miami.

Oh ya, mad Cubans too.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

*hugs*

Yeah, that sounds like the Florida I remember. I can't wait to introduce my girlfriend to Palmetto bugs: "Look, sweety, a giant flying cockroach you can't kill with a baseball bat! Isn't he cute?"

SpaceAce

it aint nice brotha! :1orglaugh

I75 is waaaay the fuck out west
miami lakes is all spanish speaking and way far west as well - plus traffic is a bitch at the rush hr times in those areas

stick east of I95 from aventura area to commercial blivd (mid lauderdale)

i love it, sun, water, girls, people are laid back.. Very cool

My boy just moved their. Cam back here for 2 days for business. Called me the Fat Nebraskan. Told me he was on the South Beach Diet. Drugs and Alcohol. His family is shipping him off to rehab. He left on a plane today. Thats all I know about Miami. And WMC of course.

It's hot and sticky.

If you want to live well, bring your wallet.

Hollywood Beach looks nice.

It looks like you might have a few good choices:

http://miami.craigslist.org/apa/